OLONGAPO CITY – Philippine Christian University rode on the wave of a blistering record-tying performance of Yves Sazon to hammer out the 81-71 win over Manuel L. Quezon University as the 16th National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) took its act to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Gym Saturday (September 17). Sazon matched the tournament record of 45 points as the Dolphins were never under threat from the opening buzzer.

So dominating were the Dolphins that Sazon and teammate Michael Ayonayon had more points individually compared to the entire Stallions quintet that could only muster 10 markers in the opening period. Sazon had 23 while Ayonayon added 11 as PCU surged ahead, 36-10.

The torrid scoring pace tapered off but the Dolphins remained on fire with team captain Fidel Castro coming off the bench to sustain the attack. PCU led by as high as 34 points just before halftime, 53-19.

Still, the Stallions tried their best to make the game interesting behind Jeymark Mallari, Justin Padua, Nikko Lao and Christopher Bitoon who was not his usual prolific self in the first half. However, the early lead proved too big to overcome despite the Dolphins churning out a mere six points in the final period.

Sazon also grabbed eight rebounds and now shares the one-game scoring record with guard Dahrell Caranguian of De Ocampo Memorial College who first achieved the feat ironically against PCU last September 11 at the RTU Gym. Ayonayon backed up Sazon with 17 points and seven rebounds.

Mallari paced the Stallions with 25 points, 14 coming in the second half as they tried to close the gap. Padua followed with 11 points and nine rebounds as they saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

The win was a good recovery for the Dolphins after their stinging defeat to Philippine Merchant Marine School, 80-81, less than 24 hours earlier at the RTU Gym. PCU improved to 6-4 in a three-way tie with MLQU and DOMC for Sixth to Eighth Place.